By Toni Rocha
For StatelineBusiness

ROCKFORD -- In the world of business travel, savvy corporations recognize that experience is just one of the prerequisites for choosing a travel agency. Finding the high level of support, flexibility, knowledge and personal service can make an enormous different in successful customer relationships.

At Camelot World Travel, many regional companies are finding what they want and need to operate on a global level and meet the challenges of modern business. Owners Tim and Kelly Fitz bring a world of first-hand experience into the field of business and recreational travel.

Tim Fitz finished law school in 2005, passing the Illinois bar in 2006. But he and wife, Kelly, share a passion for travel that has taken them down an entirely different path.

"A family friend owned Executive BTI Travel," he said. "We took the business over from him, renamed it Paramount Travel and turned it around. When family friends decided to sell Camelot World Travel, we purchased it last August."

The Fitzes moved Paramount Travel from South Alpine Road into 2627 N. Mulford Road in Brynwood Square with the original Camelot World Travel. The two companies merged and expanding into existing commercial space to accommodate the agency's needs. A grand opening last December celebrated the merger. Now operating under Camelot World Travel, the agency offers recreational and business travelers the expertise and service discriminating clients demand.

"Our travel agents average more than 20 years' experience," Fitz added. "Today, we have all the infrastructure in place to supply any travel requirement."

While Camelot supports the O'Hare Rockford Airport 100 percent, Fitz said most corporate clients fly out of O'Hare, especially those going overseas.

"Now that United has pulled out of Rockford, we aren't seeing as many business people flying out from here," Fitz said. "They can still fly to Denver and use the service to Detroit. But because Rockford doesn't offer multiple daily flights to accommodate travel issues, O'Hare remains the airport of choice even over Midway."

Because Camelot specializes in business travel, Fitz said his agents can offer the kind of services corporations need to not only send their personnel where they need to be but also track expenses and monitor fares, making flight, hotel, car rental and related expenses more cost-effective.

"Many companies are looking at flying versus driving to closer destinations," Fitz explained. "Industry is also making use of Internet conferencing as opposed to travel, but nothing really replaces the face-to-face communication on which solid business relationships are built."

With corporate clients that include Eclipse in Rockford, Wisconsin Energy in Milwaukee and the Rockford Ice Hogs, Camelot World Travel has forged close relationships with the regions' most requested airlines -- United and American.

"We have what we call ACD, an automated call distribution which routes callers to the appropriate agents," Fitz said. "Our corporate clients can also book through our Web site online as a lower fee alternative. The site acts like a normal page for booking flights, hotels and car rental, but has the client's logo on it."

Camelot provides 24/7 support to corporate clients so they are never on their own. And beyond that, Fitz said the agency keeps reports of all bookings so clients know cumulatively where their personnel have traveled as well as cost, helping them track and assess how effective their travel program was in terms of increased sales and new customers.

"For many industries, travel is the third or fourth highest expenditure," Fitz added. "In terms of experience and support, Camelot is next to none. Our agents make it their business to ensure that corporate travelers get where they need to go."